Sunday, June 3, 2012

IBI Issues First Biochar Standards

After three years of research and consultation, the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) has released the first set of international biochar standards. These "Biochar Guidelines" provide basic definitions and test methods for biochar, with the goal of introducing a minimum level of reliable product standardization in order to enable increased development of the nascent biochar industry. Among other things, the standards establish a new framework for classifying biochar based on its carbon content:

Class 1 biochar - >60% carbon

Class 2 biochar - 30-60% carbon

Class 3 biochar - 10-30% carbon

IBI plans to follow up publication of these standards with a new global certification scheme designed to promote further commercialization of biochar technologies.